Page 73 of The Lighthouse at the Cove
“I really like you, Kaiah,” he said. His voice was husky, and suddenly the spring breeze wasn’t enough to cool the heat of her skin. “I like youa lot.”
She let his words settle over her before she answered, the corners of her mouth curving up. “I like you too, Reid.”
When he pulled away, Reid’s smile had smoothed out. His soft expression turned into a smolder, and she held her breath as her nerve endings stood on end.
He gently angled her chin toward his, and when his lips met hers, her knees buckled. Happiness blossomed in the pit of her belly as he cradled the nape of her neck, and she melted against him. She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his muscled frame leaning against hers as she lost herself in his kiss.
Wow.
That was like nothing she’d ever experienced before. When he shifted away from her, she grasped his shoulders for balance.
“I’ve wanted to do that ever since we went to the elementary school to talk to Coach Emmerson.”
“What took you so long?” she whispered, her voice breathy.
With that, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her again, and this time she looped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He leaned in to deepen the kiss, and the feel of his body under her fingertips, the way it pressed against hers, made her feel as if all her cells were on fire.
When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers and grinned. “I’m sorry I waited so long, but I can’t say I’m disappointed.”
She laughed. “Me neither.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” He stood up straight, linked his fingerswith hers, and turned toward the lighthouse. “So, now that we’ve figured out how to light up the lighthouse, I was thinking I could give tours during the festival,” he said. “But it really needs to be cleaned up. Would you help me get it ready?”
She nodded while trying to find her voice. “Yeah. Of course.”
“Great. Let’s go inside.”
As he pulled her toward the lighthouse, she hoped they’d repeat that kiss soon.
Reid guided Kaiah through the lighthouse, showing her where he was thinking about placing booths for the historical society to sell souvenirs and take donations. Then he led her up the stairs to the lantern room.
Although he prattled on about his plans for the lighthouse, his mind was still stuck on the moment they’d shared on the beach. Holding her felt like a dream. He hadn’t felt such a rush of emotions—comfort, desire, joy, and hope—since he’d been with Brynn. Kaiah had awakened something deep inside him, something he’d tried to lock away nearly half a decade ago. Holding her against him had felt right. It was as if she belonged in his arms, and he needed to find a way to convince her to stay so that he could kiss her again. Thoroughly. And often.
“Mr. Johnson said he’s still working on getting the lamp repaired,” Reid told her while they stood in the lantern room. “If he gets it fixed on time, we’ll have extra ambience.”
Kaiah took his hand and motioned toward the gallery deck. “Let’s see the view from out there.”
He followed her outside, and a cool breeze fluttered over them.
She rested her head against his shoulder. “It’s beautiful up here.”
He nodded, but his eyes were focused on her gorgeous profile, taking in her high cheekbones, ocean-blue eyes, pink lips, and sun-kissed skin, while doing his best to commit to memory how she seemed to glow in the light of the sunset. He wanted his mind to document this moment forever. And more than anything, he wanted to convince this woman to stay in Coral Cove and build a life with him and his daughter.
Her phone dinged, yanking him back to reality as she plucked it from her purse. She studied the screen, and her brow furrowed before she locked the phone and dropped it back into her bag.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
She huffed out a breath. “It’s my ex. He won’t take a hint.”
“Hayes?” he asked, and she nodded. He tried in vain to banish the jealousy worming its way through him. She’d made it clear that she was done with him, so why did he care if the guy was still reaching out to her?
But it bothered him. Badly.
They stood in silence for several moments, both of them unsure how to move the night forward.
Kaiah acted first. “Listen, let’s just forget him,” she said. She leaned against him, kissed his cheek, and released a happy sigh from her pink lips. “I can’t believe it’s Tuesday and the festival is Friday. I feel like everything’s coming together.”
“And that’s because of you, Ky.” He pulled her against him and enjoyed the feeling of her soft, warm skin on his. “We can tie up loose ends tomorrow. I have to work Friday, but Cash already told me we’ll be stationed at the festival.”
